Which cable is commonly used for external hard drives?

The choice of eSATA is particularly relevant when discussing connections for external hard drives. eSATA, or external SATA, is specifically designed to connect external devices, including hard drives, to computers via the SATA interface. It allows for high-speed data transfer rates similar to those achieved with internal SATA connections, making it a preferred option for many users looking to achieve fast and effective access to external storage solutions.

While USB is also widely used for connecting external hard drives, it is more universal and serves various devices beyond just storage, although it may not always match the speed of eSATA in terms of data transfer rates. Thunderbolt enables very high data transfer rates and is increasingly common with newer external drives, especially in professional settings, but it is not as standard as eSATA in the context of external hard drives.

SATA is primarily used for internal drives, connecting them directly to the motherboard, and therefore does not apply to external connections. In sum, eSATA stands out as the option tailored specifically for external hard drives, highlighting its purpose-built design and efficiency for that use.